GatorBait.net - Gators win season opener

February 20, 2009

Mike Hodge
GatorBait.net Assistant Editor

GAINESVILLE --- One player is an All-American. The other aspires to be one.

In a game that featured two of college baseball's best pitchers, Patrick Keating was a bit better than his pedigreed competition. Florida's stout senior struck out a career high seven Friday and yielded three runs during a 6-3 victory over No. 8 Louisville before 4,403 fans at McKethan Stadium.

Keating (1-0) spaced 72 pitches over seven innings and did walk a single batter during the chilly evening, a proven formula for consistency that led to All-SEC honors last season and worked just fine during the 2009 season opener.

"We were hoping to get five out of him and he gives us seven innings," UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "He kept right at his pitch count, so it worked out perfectly for us. Anytime you average 10 pitches an inning and strike out seven guys. ? I thought he did a really nice job."

Justin Marks (0-1), the Cardinals' second-team All-American and the Big East Preseason Pitcher of the Year, threw five innings, gave up four runs and three hits, striking out three on 91 pitches.

"At the beginning he was a little shaky, but then he settled down and showed us what we were preparing for," UF sophomore infielder Josh Adams said. "He did a good job tonight. We just got timely hits, stole some bases here and there and just played well."

Offensively, Florida (1-0) was led by Adams, who had two hits and scored a run. Brandon McArthur added a triple and two RBI. Avery Barnes added a single and an RBI for the Gators, who tallied eight hits off three Cardinal pitchers.

"I've been working, I just got lucky twice," Adams said. "We have to come back out (Saturday) and try to win. We'll see how it goes."

Florida led 4-0 early, Louisville rallied and trailed 4-3, but the Gators closed strong with two seventh-inning runs off two Cardinal relievers to pull away against a club that returns eight starters off a 41-21 NCAA regional squad.

The No. 23 Gators took control early, scoring three first-inning runs off Marks. Adams and McArthur had big hits. Adams reached on a one-out single down the third base line, and McArthur tripled toward the right center field gap, scoring Adams and Barnes, who was hit by a pitch. McArthur scored on a shallow flyball by Preston Tucker.

The play at home was oh-so close. The ball and McArthur arrived at the same time, but the sixth-year senior beat the tag by sliding wide and grazing the plate with his left hand. Not bad for a guy who tore his ACL last April.

"I was really surprised (O'Sullivan) sent me," McArthur said. "About three times when I was tagging up, he said, 'Stay with me, stay with me, stay with me.' I thought he was going to run me halfway down and send me back, but once he didn't say anything, I kept going."

Up 3-0, Florida kept pushing for more. Riley Cooper, the starter in right field, led off with a second-inning single, made second on a grounder and scored on a groundball to short by Mike Mooney. The play was ruled an error, but Cooper, who left third on contact, probably would have scored anyway.

The play was significant for two reasons. One, it put the Gators up 4-0 and gave Keating a comfy lead and two it sent a clear, assertive message to the visiting base dugout.

"That's just how we play," Adams said. "We try to score runs and be aggressive. That's just what it comes down to."

Louisville (0-1) rallied with two runs in the fourth off two hits and a defensive misplay by Florida's infield. Andrew Clark doubled. Chris Dominguez struck out and catcher Buddy Munroe dropped the third strike, but instead of throwing to first for the sure out, he tried to pick off Clark, who had strayed too far off second.

The intent was good; the execution was not. The throw was a tad wide, and Clark, hustling to third, dipped under the tag, leaving runners on second and third with no one out. Both runs scored on a single and a groundout, cutting UF's lead to 4-2.

Keating, who tied his career high for strikeouts (six) after six innings, held his ground in the fifth, retiring three straight batters. Pisani snared a popup and a nasty groundball, and McArthur reached wide to spear a line drive.

Florida dodged trouble early when first-year starter Mooney misfired on a throw to first, allowing Louisville leadoff hitter John Dao to reach in the top of the first. But Keating settled down and retired the next three batters on a strikeout, flyball and a groundout.

The three-game series resumes Saturday at 1. Florida will start freshman Alex Panteliodis. Game three is set for Sunday at noon. Freshman left-hander Nick Maronde will start the series finale for the Gators.


2009 University of Florida Baseball
                          #8 Louisville at #23 Florida
              Feb 20, 2009 at Gainesville, Fla. (McKethan Stadium)

Louisville 3 (0-1)

Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
John Dao ss..............  4  0  0  0   0  0  2  3   0
Josh Richmond rf/cf......  4  0  0  0   0  3  3  0   0
Andrew Clark 1b..........  4  1  3  0   0  0  7  0   0
Chris Dominguez 3b.......  4  1  0  0   0  2  1  3   2
Phil Wunderlich lf.......  3  0  2  1   0  0  1  0   0
 Nate Holland pr.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Jeff Arnold c............  3  0  0  1   0  0  3  2   0
 Tony Zych ph............  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Ryan Wright dh...........  4  0  0  0   0  2  0  0   0
Adam Duvall 2b...........  4  1  1  1   0  0  3  1   3
Drew Haynes cf...........  2  0  0  0   0  1  3  0   0
 Kyle Cheesebrough ph....  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Alec Lowrey rf..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
Justin Marks p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Gabriel Shaw p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Bob Revesz p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 34  3  6  3   0  8 24  9   5

Florida 6 (1-0)

Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Avery Barnes lf..........  3  1  1  1   0  0  0  0   0
 Jonathan Pigott lf......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Matt den Dekker cf.......  4  0  1  1   0  2  3  0   1
Josh Adams 3b............  4  1  2  0   0  0  2  6   1
Brandon McArthur 1b......  4  1  1  2   0  0 10  0   0
Preston Tucker dh........  3  0  1  1   0  0  0  0   0
Clayton Pisani 2b........  4  0  0  0   0  0  3  1   1
Riley Cooper rf..........  3  1  1  0   0  1  2  1   0
Buddy Munroe c...........  3  1  1  0   0  0  6  1   0
Mike Mooney ss...........  1  1  0  1   1  0  1  0   0
Patrick Keating p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Billy Bullock p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 29  6  8  6   1  3 27  9   3

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Louisville.......... 000 200 100 -  3  6  1
Florida............. 310 000 20X -  6  8  2
-------------------------------------------

E - Dao(1); Mooney 2(1). DP - Cardinals 2. LOB - Cardinals 5; Gators 3. 2B -
Clark(1). 3B - McArthur(1). HR - Duvall(1). HBP - Wunderlich; Barnes;
Mooney. SF - Tucker(1). SB - Mooney(1). CS - Mooney(1).

Louisville             IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Justin Marks........  5.0  3  4  3  0  3 17 20
Gabriel Shaw........  1.1  3  2  2  1  0  6  7
Bob Revesz..........  1.2  2  0  0  0  0  6  6

Florida                IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Patrick Keating.....  7.0  4  3  2  0  7 26 27
Billy Bullock.......  2.0  2  0  0  0  1  8  8

Win - Keating (1-0).  Loss - Marks (0-1).  Save - Bullock (1).
HBP - by Marks (Barnes); by Keating (Wunderlich); by Marks (Mooney). BK -
Marks(1). PB - Arnold(1).
Umpires - HP: A.J. Lostaglio  1B: Cory Gottsegen  3B: Manny Salazar
Start: 6:37 pm   Time: 2:26   Attendance: 4403
Weather: Sunny, 52 degrees
Game: LOU1

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